It has been confirmed this morning the GMX electrical appliance factory in Thurles, Co Tipperary, will close with the loss of 230 jobs.
Workers were told of the decision at a meeting with management this morning.
The factory is owned by French multinational Moulinex, which closed the Krupps plant in Limerick city just before Christmas 1999 with the loss of 500 jobs.
Moulinex owns 18 factories worldwide and is cutting back on production and staff.These cutbacks will see it shed 4,000 of its 10,000-strong workforce.